Fittingly, given that West Ham United face Chelsea this weekend, it is time to reflect on the blink-and-you’d-miss-it Premier League return of a London Stadium cult hero.
Not that there is much to reflect on, of course.
The former West Ham United fan favourite played only three Premier League matches, totalling 127 minutes, before leaving English shores as quickly as he returned.
But four years after his looping cross floated into the back of the Chelsea net to seal a famous 3-2 West Ham victory over their hated London rivals, what better time to check back in on the 32-year-old DR Congo international?
What should Nuno do to end West Ham’s AWFUL record vs Chelsea? ⚒️ 🔵
Are there any changes you want to see?
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Nuno Espirito Santo has quite the dilemma facing him this weekend. Ollie Scarles or El Hadji Malick Diouf? The former has stepped up supremely during the latter’s Africa Cup of Nations-enforced absence.
In Sunderland, though, their head coach Regis Le Bris made his decision some months ago. Reinildo Mandava, the all-action left-back signed from Atletico Madrid, is a shoo-in for any prospective ‘Signing of the Season’ XIs.
So, only five months after Masuaku returned to the Premier League with Sunderland, the veteran departs again, through the backdoor and to very little fanfare from a fanbase who may have forgotten he was even in the building.
West Ham United cult hero Arthur Masuaku leaves Sunderland for RC Lens
Arthur Masuaku left West Ham for Besiktas back in 2023, to the tune of around £2 million.
Three years on, there is a chance – and a very real one at that – that the one-time Olympiakos ace ends the current campaign as a league champion across the Channel. The Lille-born Masuaku joins Ligue 1 outfit RC Lens on loan from Sunderland.
Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
A Lens side sitting only two points behind Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the French first division.
The perennial overachievers were defeated by Marseille last time out but remain in touching distance of the summit. The hope will be that Masuaku’s vast experience and wildcard spirit will bring some valuable nous to a young squad.
Nuno Espirito Santo must pick between Ollie Scarles and El Hadji Malick Diouf Pick your West Ham v Chelsea combined XI! ⚒️ v 🔵
Are you selecting Fernandes over Palmer? Areola over Sanchez? What about Bowen?
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As for that old Stamford Bridge debate, Nuno spoke glowingly of Ollie Scarles when weighing up his options ahead of Saturday’s late-kick off in West London.
“Ollie is doing well, and Ezra [Mayers] also stepped in some games and is another option,” Nuno said as Diouf returned from Senegal’s victorious AFCON campaign.
“Malick returns, we still have to assess him and see how he comes. He’ll be happy to be back.”
Scarles trudged off in tears when West Ham lost to Fulham two days after Christmas, his miskick helping gift Raul Jimenez a late winner. It is to the youngster’s eternal credit, then, that the reigning Young Hammer of the Year has bounced back stronger since then, putting in imperious performances against the likes of Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham.
Scarles now leads the way with the most tackles on average of any West Ham player this season.
“After Fulham, Ollie’s response was amazing,” Nuno added. “It’s been good to see, especially with the reception that he had from our fans. It helped a lot and has given him belief.”
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